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Chris Silverwood is in contention to succeed Trevor Bayliss as England head coach, with director of cricket Ashley Giles "99.9 per cent" certain that one person will be appointed to the role.

Giles had previously been open to the idea of employing split coaches for the Test and limited-overs teams when Bayliss leaves his role in September.

But he is now inclined to entrust the position to an individual, believing it will bring "stability in culture as well as voice".

Bowling coach Silverwood, part of a three-man team assisting Bayliss along with Paul Collingwood and Graham Thorpe, impressed Giles when at the helm of Essex, where he won promotion before sealing the County Championship title in 2017.

"I'll put my cards on the table," Giles told reporters in Barbados on Thursday. "My feeling's now 99.9 per cent that we should have one coach.

"One coach gives us stability in culture as well as voice. But I see it as one guy in charge – and prepared for time off – and three assistant coaches, not just one, that work together and help share the burden. We'll see the start of that shape going into World Cup.

"Paul Collingwood will be involved in the World Cup, but he is not replacing Paul Farbrace [who leaves for Warwickshire next month]. I think having one assistant puts a lot of pressure on that person.

"Spoons [Silverwood] is a candidate, yes. Seeing what he did as head coach of Essex was remarkable. They were a bit of a shambles when he came and, in two years, he'd turned them round completely.

"And he's got a nice way about him. He's a tough bloke, with a fair amount of discipline, but he communicates really well. We know he's capable."

Details of a 100-ball format for the new white-ball competition in England and Wales have been agreed, the ECB has confirmed.

English cricket's governing body prompted a somewhat mixed reaction last April when they revealed plans for their new domestic tournament to feature innings of 100 balls a side.

However, in a media release on Thursday, the ECB confirmed the first-class counties of England and Wales have voted overwhelmingly in favour of their proposed playing conditions for an event that will now officially be known as The Hundred.

The new competition will feature changes of ends after 10 balls and 25-delivery powerplays for each team. Bowlers will be able to deliver either five or 10 consecutive balls and a maximum of 20 deliveries per game.

"This is a significant step, with overwhelming support for The Hundred," said ECB chief executive officer Tom Harrison after 17 of the 18 counties voted in favour.

Sanjay Patel, who will take up the role of managing director for the new competition, added: "This agreement for the playing conditions shows the confidence that the counties have in the new competition and their desire to help take cricket to more people.

"You will now see an acceleration in the progress of The Hundred and a series of significant building blocks over the coming months, before our first ever player draft in the autumn.

"The next major step will be to confirm the team identities, with their names and kit colours, following months of research and consultation and, operationally, the new competition team will be able to move into the next phase of developing The Hundred."